Chapter 26: Skill Selection 4
“Charged Slash (Sword Burst)!”
The first skill I tried was Sword Burst.
It could attack with dozens of times more power than a normal slash.
Though it left me wide open for longer…
—FWOOSH!
—KABOOOM!
“Wh-What incredible power…” Claris murmured.
Before, I could only break large rocks at best, but using the charge, it now had enough power to carve out a huge chunk of the entire wall…
If I hit a person with something like this, they’d definitely be blown to bits…
“Lightning Strike Sword (Thunder Sword)!”
—BZZZZZZT!!
It seemed Lightning Strike Sword was a skill that imbued the sword tip with lightning.
If I combined this with Sword Burst… I wonder what kind of power it would unleash.
“The way you are now, Roine, you look like you could even defeat a dragon,” Claris said.
“Haha… that’s impossible… surely,” I replied.
Next, I used the Wall Destruction (Thermite) skill.
Apparently, this could destroy dungeon walls.
“Whoa! With this, I can advance through the dungeon ignoring the set paths!”
“We might even be able to find hidden monsters!” Claris added.
I immediately unleashed it at the wall!
If I could find a Skill Mage nest or something, it’d be a real jackpot.
—CRRAAASH!
“Ah…”
But what emerged from inside the wall was a different monster.
“A d-dragoooooonnnn…!?”
Yes, unbelievably, a dragon had been sleeping on the other side of the wall.
A crimson dragon, a Red Dragon.
—ROOOOAAAARRRR!!!!
The dragon, enraged, directed its killing intent towards us.
It spewed flames in our direction!
“Roine! Look out! Get behind me!”
And Claris used a skill.
“Reflecting Shield (Reflect)!”
—SHIIIING!
And what do you know?
The dragon’s breath bounced off the shield and shot back towards the dragon!
—GROOOOAR!?
The dragon, perhaps surprised itself, grimaced at its own breath.
However, it seemed fire had no effect on the dragon…
—GROOOOAAAARRR!!!!
“Eh… It’s even angrier…!?” Claris exclaimed.
It looked like we had only fanned the flames of the dragon’s fury.
Well, I guess it wouldn’t take damage from its own breath…
“Roine! Wh-wh-wh-what do we do!?”
“It can’t be helped… Leave it to me!”
The dragon’s anger didn’t look like it would calm down anytime soon.
I drew my sword.
This was the perfect time to use my skills.
“Weakness Scan (Weak Search)! I see it…!”
When I used the skill, the dragon’s weak point appeared before my eyes.
The base of its leg was highlighted in bright red.
I aimed for it and attacked with my sword…!
“Lightning Strike Sword (Thunder Sword)!”
—BZZZZZZT!!
—GYAOOOON!
The dragon shrieked and recoiled.
Thanks to the lightning strike, it also seemed to be slightly paralyzed.
“Alright, now’s my chance! Sword Burst!”
—FWOOOSH!!!!
I charged my power for a few seconds and unleashed it upon the dragon!
—SHLAAASH!
Unable to dodge, the dragon collapsed on the spot.
“Phew…”
“A-a-a-amazing, Roine! To think you actually defeated a dragon…!” Claris stammered.
“Ah, yeah… I actually managed to beat it…”
I never thought something like this would happen to me…
So skills can make a person this strong, huh…
“A dragon… To think it was living in a place like this…” Claris mused.
“Yeah, you’re right… We’ll have to report this to the Guild.”
Investigating dungeons like this is also part of an adventurer’s job.
Even if there isn’t an active quest, you can get a reward just for reporting such information.
Eliminating a threat as dangerous as a dragon will probably raise my ranking again…
“H-Hey… Can we make this achievement Claris’s?”
“I-I don’t mind, but… why?”
“Well… if I hit first place, I’ll probably get hassled by the Hero again…”
“I-I see… You have it tough in various ways, huh.”
For now, I’ll submit the investigation report under Claris’s name.
If Claris’s rank and mine are close, it’ll probably be easier for us to move around in the future…
Oops, more importantly, the dragon’s drop item.
“Let’s see, let’s see…”
【Dragon Orb】
Rarity: ★★★★★★★★★★
Drop Rate: 0.0001%
Description: An extremely precious, mythical-grade material.
“S-Seriously…? A Dragon Orb…!?”
“Th-That’s… incredibly amazing, isn’t it!?” Claris exclaimed.
“Y-Yeah…”
I’d heard stories about it.
It looks like I can make some incredible equipment with this…
I never thought I’d see one with my own eyes in my lifetime…
“Well then, shall we… head back to town for now?” Claris suggested.
“Sounds good… Teleport!”
We used Teleport and returned to the town of Mirage.
Let’s go report to the Guild right away.
◇
“So… what report did Roine-san come to make…?”
Salina-san said with a smile.
But her eyes were fixed on Claris, who was next to me.
“Ah, um… We subjugated a dragon… so I came to report that.”
“That’s not what I meant… Who is this girl…?”
I have no choice but to be honest…
I steeled my resolve.
“Salina-san!”
“Y-Yes…”
“I love you, Salina-san! I’ll definitely make you happy!”
“Ah, thank you…?”
“So, is it okay if I also date Claris?!”
“Eeeh…!?”
I looked at Salina-san with serious eyes.
I could feel the gazes of everyone in the guild on me, but I didn’t care.
I will love both of them equally, earnestly, and make them happy.
“Haaah… So that’s what this is about… I understand. I’ll follow you for the rest of my life, Roine-san.”
“R-Really!?”
“Yes… But you absolutely must love us both, okay? Also, if you bring any more girls in the future, you have to introduce them properly! Those are my conditions. Understood?”
“Y-Yes…!”
I was so happy I felt like crying.
The two people I truly loved had both acknowledged and accepted me.
I’ve fought desperately and won my way here.
I felt like all those frustrating days had finally paid off.
“If you don’t… neither I nor Claris-chan will forgive you! Right, Claris-chan?”
“Y-Yes! That’s right, Salina-san! We’ll make Roine make us absolutely happy, won’t we?”
“”Right?!”” they chimed in unison.
Well, well, what’s this…
It seems Salina-san and Claris have formed an alliance.
It’s good that they seem to be getting along, but… the pressure they’re exuding is a little scary.
I absolutely have to make them both happy, no matter what!